Archives | Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 1

This is the match that both clubs were looking forward to you as these two rivals meet again at The Falkirk Stadium for the first time since April 2023. The home side was unchanged from the side that defeated Hamilton the previous Friday night but James McPake made two changes with Kieran Ngwenya and Lewis McCann starting, Joe Chalmers was on the bench but there was no Chris Kane.

There was a predictable pre kick off buzz and noisy build up with a great air of expectancy around the stadium. The Pars supporter cries of `˜get into them` reflected their desire to see the points go back to Fife. Craig Wighton kicked off with the visitors attacking the goal in front of the home support. First opportunity however came at the other end when Gary Oliver accepted a lay off from Ethan Ross to pull the trigger on a shot from 15 yards out. Thankfully Matty Todd slid in to masterfully concede only a corner. That fifth minute cross from Brad Spencer was easily headed away by Wighton.

Dunfermline`s first corner was won by McCann five minutes later but taken short by Todd to Kane Ritchie-Hosler his slip allowed Falkirk to snuff out any threat. It was Craig Clay 25 yards out that put in the first Pars shot on target but Nicky Hogarth held confidently. Then in 14th minute after McCann had forced a corner on the right, Clay was able to fire a better effort low through players that Hogarth looked rather lucky to keep out.

Dylan Tait created danger as he tried to work the ball to Oliver on the left side of the Dunfermline box but the defence held out. Todd was shown a harsh yellow as Ross stuck his head low into the Pars man`s clearance. From the resultant free kick 28 yards out Otoo cleared as Tait lined up a shot. At the other end Falkirk had to restrain McCann again but it had become end to end.

Then luck struck for the home side. It had looked as if it had gone the other way as Ross` 24th minute shot came back off the left post but the ball came back off Chris HAMILTON to trickle over the line. 1-0

Tobi Oluwayemi, who had little chance at the goal, stuck out a foot to deny Aidan Nesbitt and then stopped a Tait effort from a deep played corner kick. Falkirk defended a 35th minute Todd corner but then after Sam Young had been fouled out on the right touchline had to see off a Todd free kick. Final chance of the first half fell to McCann six yards out on the left side but his diving header on the end of another Todd free kick travelled across goal and wide right of target.

Half Time: Falkirk 1 Dunfermline 0

Dunfermline were pushing up in the third minute of the second half when Oliver latched onto a loose ball at the back but Hamilton seemed to have recovered enough to thwart his danger but the break of the ball on the edge of the Pars box yielded a chance for Tait. Otoo`s challenge was well timed and the former Raith man was yellow carded.

After just seven minutes of the half James McPake made three changes with Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Matty Todd and Craig Wighton being replaced by Dapo Mebude, David Wotherspoon and Josh Cooper. With the Fifers looking for the a goal to level it was Falkirk who again got the break of the ball to score a second.Nesbitt`s 57th minute shot was stopped by Oluwayemi but the ball ricocheted off Hamilton and Calvin MILLER was on hand to convert the chance. 2-0

A break on the left side by Mebude was punctuated with a cross that Cooper met ten yards out but Hogarth held. As the match went into its final quarter more of the play was in the Falkirk half but Dunfermline were finding it hard to get in testing efforts. Falkirk made three subs and again that heralded a goal for the other side. From the restart Wotherspoon swept the ball into the opposition box and Lewis McCANN glanced a header in at the top left. 2-1

Eighteen year old Taylor Sutherland was introduced for Ewan Otoo as Dunfermline set themselves for a final push in the closing fifteen minutes. Joe Chalmers replaced McCann who limped off with six minutes remaining. Oluwayemi`s 87th minute free kick from just inside his own half was headed netbound by Hamilton but Luke Graham headed the ball clear for a corner. That was defended but in 90th minute both central defenders, first Young and then Hamilton, came close to scoring.

Falkirk had seen a large portion of good luck typified by a ball that came off Cooper for Hogarth to save. Dunfermline on the other hand experienced a lack of luck. After five added minutes referee Chris Graham sounded the whistle that registered three points for the home side.

FALKIRK: Nicky Hogarth: Keelan Adams, Luke Graham, Liam Henderson, Leon McCann: Brad Spencer, Dylan Tait (Alfredo Agyeman 71): Calvin Miller (Michael McKenna 87), Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross (Finn Yeats 71): Gary Oliver (Ross MacIver 71)
SUBS NOT USED: Ryan Shanley, Flynn McCafferty, Caelan McCrone, Owen Hayward (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Adams (78)
SCORERS: Hamilton (24 og), Miller (57)

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Sam Young, Chris Hamilton (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Kane Ritchie-Hosler (David Wotherspoon 52), Craig Clay, Ewan Otoo (Taylor Sutherland 77): Matty Todd (Josh Cooper 52), Craig Wighton (Dapo Mebude 52), Lewis McCann (Joe Chalmers 84)
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle Benedictus, Sam Fisher, Tommy Fogarty, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Todd (19), Mebude (59), James McPake (79), Hamilton (90+1), Clay (90+5)
SCORER: McCann (72)

REFEREE: Chris Graham
ATTENDANCE: 7321 (inc 1440 Pars fans)
WEATHER: Fine 14°C

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship (home) v Livingston, Tuesday 29th October 2024, kick off 7.45pm at KDM Group East End Park.

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